Enea Bastianini endured what he described as the worst MotoGP race experience of his career after finishing 17th in the recent Silverstone Grand Prix. The Italian rider, competing for Red Bull KTM Tech3, expressed deep frustration with his performance, highlighting the challenges he faced with his bike throughout the race.
Technical Issues and Early Penalty Hamper Progress
Bastianini admitted that it was a “very complicated day” during which it became impossible for him to push the bike as he had hoped. His struggles were compounded by a Long Lap penalty, imposed due to an earlier infraction in Le Mans, which required him to take a slower route immediately after the start.
“A frustrating race and I just wanted to finish. The Long Lap didn’t help to stay with the group but I also had the front device locked for the whole first lap,”
he revealed, indicating how these difficulties stacked up from the very beginning.
Expressing Frustration Over the KTM RC16 Limitations
The rider from Rimini left no doubts about the severity of his dissatisfaction, at one point saying, “Nothing more to say!” The performance issues with the KTM RC16 clearly played a key role in his troubled race, as the machine’s characteristics severely limited his competitiveness and ability to keep pace with other riders.
Professionalism Despite Adversity
Despite the urge to quit, Bastianini showed determination by completing the race, emphasizing his commitment to the team in tough circumstances. His perseverance under pressure reflects his professionalism, even when dealing with one of the most challenging periods in his MotoGP tenure.
Implications for Bastianini and the Team Moving Forward
This difficult outing at Silverstone underscores the ongoing struggles Bastianini faces with the current bike setup and race conditions. The added time lost due to the Long Lap penalty hampered any chance of climbing positions early in the race. As the season continues, both Bastianini and the Red Bull KTM Tech3 squad will likely focus on resolving these issues to improve results and avoid similar frustrations in future events.
